Episode 17: Music and Autism In Conversation with Akshay Shanbhag

Inclusion with Mansi

In Episode 17 we are in conversation with Akshay Shanbhag. He is a 4th year physics student of IISER Pune with a keen interest in music and yoga.

Akshay is a 4th year undergrad student of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune. He is majoring in Physics and learning about nano mechanics which deals with small molecules and particles. He has also shown interest in drums since 2012 (since grade 7). He also does Yoga. He is the coordinator of a music club called West Pune Music Club, in Baner. There are club sessions, a magazine and promote music.

He showed interest in grade 1, playing the piano, gaining confidence and doing western music and singing in a group. He then moved to Indian music but stuck to the piano. Once he was introduced to the drums he found that more exciting as there was a lot more you can do with drums. He is now doing 9 languages, including English, Spanish and other Indian languages.

His drum teacher helped him develop his interest. They have a live concert each year. The live performances have been a good experience. Even in Covid times, the concert was online and many more people could attend and cheer for him and his friends.

This club was started when he couldn’t start a club in college. So he started the West Pune Music Club. Wanted to increase communication skills and promote music to all, all genres and languages including dance. Club has 33 members. 2 external members who help with the magazine. The magazine has performances, art work, illustrations, poems, essays and now even craft work. In the lockdown more audience was reached within India and outside India as well. Recent news about club events and milestones reached by the members are also mentioned in the magazine.

If you would like to contribute towards the magazine, you can contact Akshay on:

Mobile: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Autism and Music may go together as music therapy, it can be a part of Arts Based Therapy. It helps the child build relationships and improve their communication skills. Non vocal communication is there in the form of instruments, dance or any form of music that doesn’t involve vocals.

Music has helped him in his journey as it improved his mind functions and communication skills. It helps to spread a message to all. It is good to enjoy it as you are playing in a relaxed manner. You are playing with soft hands. Unless the song demands it, then you play with force.

Music and Inclusion: In the concert before the pandemic, Manasvi did an excellent job singing and playing the keyboard. She managed to do everything perfectly in spite of being blind. She gave enough support to everyone and she was very consistent in playing. She has not joined a music school in Mumbai.

For students who are learning music, you don’t have to be an expert in any instrument to learn music. Even a shaker made out of an empty bottle with rice can be used as an instrument. He has also made them from old medicine and aluminum packets with old plastic bottles so this is saving the plastic from going into waste. Use anything that can be upcycled so plastic waste is drastically reduced. It reminds him of Ecobricks. When it is fully filled it is an ecobrick but when it is partially filled, it can be a shaker.

He wants to encourage all Autistic individuals to participate in the magazine and to think about music therapy. Message to the parents that this would be useful for them and it would develop their life skills.

He would encourage not only Autistic individuals but also women and anyone else around the globe who would like to participate.